The Maui News wins 17 SPJ Excellence in Journalism awards
Cerizo
Collias
Fujimoto
Grossman
Tanji
Thayer
Uechi
Cerizo
Collias
Fujimoto
Grossman
Tanji
Thayer
Uechi
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The Maui News
The Maui News coverage of storms that hit Haiku along with Kula and South Maui last year earned the newspaper five awards from The Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Wednesday night.
In total, The Maui News received 17 awards, which includes stories looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11. SPJ's Hawaii Chapter held its 2022 Excellence in Journalism Awards via Zoom.
For its coverage of the "Haiku Storm," in March 2021, staff writers, Lila Fujimoto and Dakota Grossman along with former staff writer Kehaulani Cerizo captured first place in the Breaking News Reporting category for daily newspapers.
The judges said: " ... Several days of solid follow-ups made this package worthy of first place."
The stories covered the heavy rains in the area that forced evacuation and relocation for residents and trapped others in their homes. There were also swollen streams and rapid flash flooding which also shut down roadways, snarled traffic, destroyed bridges and caused cresting of the Kaupakalua Reservoir and Dam.
In the same Breaking News Reporting category, Managing Editor Colleen Uechi along with Fujimoto and Grossman captured second place for their piece on the "Kona Storm" which hit Maui's Kula and South Maui areas hard in December 2021. Heavy rains Upcountry translated to massive flooding in South Maui, swamping yards, homes and streets. In the aftermath were power outages and a significant water outage for Kula.
The "Haiku Storm" coverage by Fujimoto, Grossman and Cerizo, also captured first place for Spot News Reporting.
The judges said: "Kudos for the first three grafs that tell the scope, context and impact of the news -- and the rest of the story that backs up with soggy details and evidence."
The Maui News took the top three spots in the General News/Enterprise Reporting category.
Staff Writer Melissa Tanji along with Grossman and Cerizo took the top award for the series "COVID-19: One Year."
The judges said: "Exhaustive look at what COVID-19 meant to all aspects of the Maui economy, showing hard work and enterprise reporting by staff members."
The series "September 11 20th Anniversary" took second place. It was put together by Uechi, Fujimoto, Tanji, Cerizo and photographer Matthew Thayer.
Taking third was "Kona Storm," put together by Uechi, Fujimoto and Grossman.
Cerizo took first place in the Feature Writing/Short Form Category for "Maui's own directs Marvel's first Asian superhero film," a story about Maui native Destin Daniel Cretton directing Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
She also took second place in the same category for her story, "Iconic Charley's shutters saloon doors for good."
In the Feature Writing/Long Form category, sportswriter Rob Collias took first place for "Guzman remembered for impact on Maui's soccer, sports scene."
Collias wrote about Fred Guzman, a longtime radio executive, broadcaster, soccer coach and administrator on Maui who had died on May 26, 2021.
The judges said: "Multiple sources make this a well-rounded profile."
Thayer took first-place in the Editorial Opinion category for his editorials in The Maui News.
The judges said: "... The quality of work from the Maui News Editor and Honolulu Civil Beat was high." Civil Beat took second place.
Thayer also captured awards in the News Photography/ Videography category. He received second place for a photo "COVID Vigil" and third place for "Kona Storm, in Photos."
In the Feature Photography/Videography category, Thayer took third place for the photo "Rodeo Clown."
In the Sports Photography/Videography category, Grossman took second place for "Sabers' Cantere claims state championship title."
Columnists for The Maui News also swept the column writing or blog/features or sports category.
Sarah Ruppenthal took first place for her "Neighbors: Profiles of our community."
The judges said: "... The writing is excellent and the people selected are all fascinating ... "
Taking second was Kathy Collins for her "Sharing Mana'o" and Ben Lowenthal for "State of Aloha."
The SPJ's Washington D.C. Chapter judged this year's contest.